Cardinal is highest-ranking official to be charged in church sex-abuse scandals

MELBOURNE, Australia—Cardinal George Pell, Pope Francis’ finance chief, will plead not guilty to multiple charges of sexual abuse leveled against him in Australia, his lawyer told a court Wednesday.

During a brief filing hearing, an administrative process where no plea is expected and the accused isn’t required to attend, lawyer Robert Richter, who is representing Cardinal Pell, said that because of the public interest, his client...